An international conversation about the world’s profound food security challenges comes to The Ohio State University for North America’s official celebration of World Food Day Oct. 16.
Food Tank, Ohio State University, Ohio Food Policy Network, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and U.N. Environment Programme are presenting the event, which will be held in person and via livestream.
This year’s World Food Day theme is “Leave no one behind. Better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life.”
“Climate change, environmental degradation, biodiversity loss and inequality, compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic and armed conflicts, have caused profound food security challenges across the globe,” said Jill Clark, an associate professor Ohio State’s John Glenn College of Public Affairs and co-founder of the Ohio Food Policy Network. “On World Food Day, leaders from around the world, and right here in Ohio, will challenge us to envision a productive and equitable food system and to act on that vision.”
The World Food Day 2022 campaign calls for global solidarity and action to transform agrifood systems in a bid to foster inclusive economic growth, address inequalities, increase resilience and achieve sustainable development.
National speakers at the Ohio State event, which will be free and livestreamed, include:
- Danielle Nierenberg, president, Food Tank, a nonprofit, national think tank for food
- Dan Glickman, former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and co-chair, White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health task force
- Jocelyn Brown Hall, director, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Liaison Office for North America
- Marion Nestle, international food politics expert; professor emerita, New York University
- Baldemar Velasquez, president, Farm Labor Organizing Committee, AFL-CIO
Ohio State sponsors of the event are the Ohio Food Policy Network, College of Medicine and College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. WOSU-NPR is hosting the event. Speakers from the university include:
- President Kristina M. Johnson
- Rattan Lal, World Food Prize Winner and professor, College of Food, Agriculture and Environmental Sciences
- Zia Ahmed, senior director, Dining Services
- Jennifer Garner, assistant professor, College of Medicine and John Glenn College of Public Affairs
- Bart Elmore, associate professor, Department of History, and author of “Seed Money”
- Shoshanah Inwood, associate professor, College of Food, Agriculture and Environmental Sciences
In addition to addressing international concerns, the event will feature panel discussions about food security issues and efforts in Ohio with Ariella J. Brown, BIPOC Farming Network; Lela Klein, board member, Gem City Market; Denise Osterhues, senior director, sustainability and social impact, Kroger Co.; and Sangeeta Lakhani, chef and executive director of Service! Relief Effort for Hospitality Workers.
“We are excited to host the World Food Day celebration here at Ohio State University,” said Clark, who also is president of the Agriculture, Food & Human Values Society, a professional organization which provides an international forum to engage in the cross-disciplinary study of food, agriculture and health and an affiliated faculty member of the Sustainability Institute at Ohio State. “This year’s theme gets to the heart of a land grant university’s mission of being a pathway to learning, discovery and empowerment to advance public good.”
Contact Jill Clark at clark.1009@osu.edu or 614-688-5984 if you are interested in attending the event in person.